Cooperation on North Korea

[Anchor Lead]

President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed cooperation with the US and Japan on the North Korean nuclear issue during the G20 summit. However, differences remain on the topic with China and Russia.

[Pkg]

Korea's multilateral summit diplomacy with foreign leaders, absent for nearly half a year due to the domestic political situation, has been restored with President Moon Jae-in's attendance at the Group of 20 summit in Germany. President Moon stressed the gravity of North Korea's nuclear and missile issue.

[Soundbite] Pres. Moon Jae-in : "Through stronger sanctions and pressure, the international community should prevent North Korea from conducting additional nuclear and missile provocations."

Following the Korea-U.S. last month, President Moon held one-on-ones with the leaders of Japan, China and Russia on the sidelines of the G20 summit, and expanded consensus on South Korea's leading role in dealing with Korean Peninsula matters. The leaders of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo also issued a joint statement denouncing North Korea.

[Soundbite] Park Soo-hyun(Cheong Wa Dae Spokesman) : "Concerned nations agreed to swiftly adopt a new UN Security Council resolution including additional sanctions to show North Korea the serious consequences of its actions."

President Moon also urged China and Russia to exert stronger pressure on Pyongyang. However, Beijing drew a clear line calling North Korea a 'blood ally,' and Russia, while saying that it supports President Moon, did not endorse the adoption of a statement by the UN Security Council condemning North Korea. A breakthrough has yet to be achieved with China regarding the THAAD antimissile shield deployment, nor has there been a consensus with Tokyo on the issue of Japan's wartime sex slavery.